• New Resident?
• Visiting the town on business?
• Tourist?
• Looking for things for your visiting relatives to do?
• Visiting the town to see where your forefathers lived?
• Considering a move to Melksham?
• Coming here on an exchange visit? Lots of reasons why people ask "tell me a bit about Melksham" ...

Introduction

I love living in this town, helping people find the facilities that suit them, welcoming newcomers. Lisa and I were new ourselves in 1999,and we rapidly learned what a wide range of places there is in the town, and yet how many of them are tucked away and you wouldn't stumble upon them by accident.

This is a page of bullet points to act as a memory jogger and to help you start your research. Please let me know of anything that I should add - happy to do so.

All pictures taken on a single walk around Melksham on 9th August 2013.
Refresh the page for another set of pictures
Click on an image to see it larger in another window

This short guide has been written for visitors to our hotel and training centre on Spa Road, Melksham - Well House Manor - where we cater for the business and leisure guest in Melksham. As well as high quality hotel rooms, we offer a cafe service of teas and coffees and a small museum which offers an introduction to the town's history. You are welcome to drop in to Well House Manor any day - no appointment necessary.

Our team all live in Melksham, and they're happy to tell you a little bit about the town and point you in the right direction ... this document is a reminder for them, and a starter for the visitor, of many of the things we sometimes overlook. Please feel free to make copies.

What's Melksham's History?
• "Melksham" = "Milk Homestead" ... a clue to the agricultural market town background.
• Melksham was a significant (forded) crossing over the Avon for thousands of years
• The first church was built in Saxon times, and there was a religious settlement too.
• Melksham was recorded in the Doomesday Book. Elements of the current church date from soon thereafter.
• Melksham Bank; Riots; Masons.
• Wilts and Berks Canal came in 1812
• Melksham Spa - to rival Bath? - opened 1815
• Melksham House and the quakers of Melksham
• Invention of the dry earth closet, cushion tyre, seamless tennis ball
• Railway came in 1848. Station closed in 1966, re-opened in 1985
• Industry - Spencers, Maggs, Spiers, Feathers, Dairy, Sawtells, Avon Tyres
• RAF Melksham - 1940 to 1964 - rafmelksham.info

What about Melksham Today?
• Population of around 25,000 ... up from around 21,000 in 2001
• Many older buildings have been replaced, but many remain.
• Some areas of the town were rebuilt about 50 years ago and are now showing their age rather obviously.
• There's a great deal of high tech industry around the town, and service and traditional heavy industry too
• Many residents work in or near the town, but many commute to work in Swindon, Bristol, Bath and other towns
• There is a similar inflow of staff to Melksham businesses
• Melksham's town centre has fared better than many, and there remains a strong independent shop sector
• There is a selection of lunchtime cafes and pubs that serve food.
• Melksham has been called the "Takeaway Capital of Wiltshire", and there are some eat in restaurants too
• Melksham is well served with supermarkets - town centre - edge of town, and smaller stores within communities
• There is a thriving population of seniors, and a vibrant young population
• Melksham Oak Community School (secondary) was opened in 2011 and there are half a dozen primary schools.
• Melksham has a thriving nighttime culture
• Melksham is considered a safe town, with a very low crime rate.

And what about Melksham tomorrow?
• The town will continue to grow to over 30,000 (pop) within 10 years
• New homes are being built to the east of the town. Other areas/sites are marked for housing too
• New football and rugby facilities will open in a couple of years
• A new Campus at Melksham House will open around 2015 - wet & dry sports, library, youth centre, police station, doctor's surgery, meeting rooms, cafe and other council services will be provided
• The Wilts and Berks Canal will reopen to Melksham in a few years (running via the river Avon) and later will continue to Swindon and Abingdon, giving a complete canal "Ring".
• Businesses continue to move to the town - for example, Herman Miller are bringing 150 jobs to the town
• Improvements are planned to the train service that calls at Melksham, making the town far more accessible
• New Hall and Woodhouse Restaurant / Pub coming
• Inevitably, some businesses will employ fewer people as they become more efficient, or close / leave the town as their business area marches ahead with time.
• See http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshire_core_strategy_melksham_boards.pdf

What is on the annual calendar?
• Food Festival
• Christmas Lights
• Santa Train
• Party in the Park / Melksham Music festival
• Spot the Oddity
• Carnival

What's the transport system like?
• By road - about 8 miles south of M4 motorway
• Plenty of parking in the town
• Coach parking being provided within the next few weeks in the Central car park
• On National Cycle Path 403
• Good selection of public footpaths and bridleways
• Buses every day of the week from Bath and Devizes
• Buses from Monday to Saturday from Chippenham and Trowbridge
• Limited train service from Swindon and Westbury, change there for long distance destinations
• Daily express coach to / from London (Heathrow and Centre) (100 miles away)

Can I participate?
• Melksham is a very welcoming town
• Ask at the TIC, Library, Town Hall or Well House Manor
• Come along to the Melksham Chamber of Commerce
• Send me an email (too many to list from age concern to zumba)

Z402 - Melksham Chamber of Commerce and Industry[4738] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - my final Presidents report - (2017-05-10)[4672] Annual review of Melksham Matters for Chamber of Commerce AGM - (2016-05-15)[4399] The Campus in Melksham - name, logo, and livery choice - (2015-01-18)[4278] Future Swindon - Westbury train services. At current level into the future? - (2014-05-25)[4170] Herman Miller coming to Melksham - the Chamber of Commerce is briefed - (2013-09-10)[4164] Melksham Market - every Tuesday - (2013-09-03)[4103] Questions from children about Melksham Campus - (2013-05-26)[4097] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - Report for AGM, 21st May 2013 - (2013-05-21)[4046] Over a hundred welcoming businesses - Melksham Town Centre - (2013-03-17)[4041] Report on the last year - Melksham Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Melksham Without Parish Council - (2013-03-11)[4014] Costa Coffee in Melksham - is it a good idea? - (2013-02-22)[4002] Images of Melksham you havent seen before - (2013-02-13)[3987] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - join us in our future - (2013-01-21)[3948] Quiet little town? Advanced Technology Centre? - (2012-12-08)[3889] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - whence in 2013 and beyond? - (2012-10-12)[3880] Chamber of Commerce - looking forward in Melksham and in Wessex - (2012-10-04)[3867] The difficult interface between the business, council and voluntary sectors - (2012-09-19)[3850] Bus times - Chippenham Station to Melksham, with London connections - (2012-08-25)[3818] Making things happen - litter and ASB and lost dogs in Melksham - (2012-07-25)[3812] The Melksham News - July 2012 - Part 1, Campus and Chamber of Commerce - (2012-07-22)[3787] Melksham Pride - the Chamber of Commerce, and the future - (2012-06-29)[3768] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - looking to our future shape. Pivotal meeting next Tuesday - (2012-06-19)[3767] How well do you know Melksham? - (2012-06-17)[3752] Melksham Visitors Map - Bus routes and train lines to and from the town - (2012-06-04)[3751] Public transport for international arrivals into Melksham - (2012-06-04)[3748] Not everyone has a computer - 9 more ways to learn about the Melksham Campus - (2012-06-03)[3739] Go green - business seminar in Melksham - (2012-05-21)[3732] Ten more visitors to your premises every day? - (2012-05-14)[3714] Just 12 winners? Or 371 or more? Town Centres. - (2012-04-30)[3710] Encouraging business in Melksham and its neighbourhood - keep business local?? - (2012-04-27)[3706] An exciting Chamber of Commerce AGM - sound like an Oxymoron? - (2012-04-25)[3700] Why do people use chains rather than independent traders? - (2012-04-18)[3696] Melksham government and business organisations - (2012-04-14)[3693] Wiltshire Business Support Service - (2012-04-11)[3682] Melksham Business Newsreel - (2012-04-03)[3677] Some advise for guest speakers at meetings - (2012-03-31)[3672] Melksham Train Service - please support the TransWilts case for regular trains - (2012-03-25)[3663] Changing shops and organisations - Melksham, the last and next five years - (2012-03-21)[3627] Meeting Report - Tuesday 21st Feb - to Melksham Chamber of Commerce from Shadow Community Operations Board - (2012-02-27)[3598] Melksham Civic Awards - report and pictures - (2012-01-29)[3560] Melksham, Month by month through 2011 - (2011-12-23)[3527] Melksham - changing times, an opportunity for the future - (2011-11-23)[3496] Melksham - Business to Business Speed Networking - build ahead for 2012 - (2011-10-26)[3495] Looking forward - Chamber of Commerce has 2012 and beyond on the agenda - (2011-10-26)[3492] Upcoming events in and about Melksham - more dates for your diary - (2011-10-22)[3481] Some thoughts in answer to some Melksham Campus questions - (2011-10-14)[3475] Havant - Shop Frontages. - (2011-10-12)[3438] Melksham to become a part of Trowbridge? - (2011-09-13)[3427] What is on the Melksham Agenda? - (2011-09-09)[3423] 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 12? - (2011-09-07)[3420] Making best use of the new enthusiasm for Melksham - (2011-09-05)[3383] Are people who walk into Melksham being asked to subsidise parking? - (2011-08-09)[3380] Melksham Jelly - An Occasional Office for Home Workers - (2011-08-06)[3343] Summer Sunday Train Service Starts - Swindon Chippenham and Melksham to Weymouth - (2011-07-03)[3340] Summer Sunday Timetable - TransWilts Trains - (2011-06-30)[3334] A lesson from the sporran market? - (2011-06-25)[3325] The Olympic Torch, and Melksham House - (2011-06-14)[3307] Melksham Community Radio launches - (2011-05-28)[3299] Presidents Report to Melksham Chamber of Commerce, 24.5.2011 - (2011-05-24)[3279] Letter to The Editor - (2011-05-06)[3275] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - grows to appoint new Press Officer. Welcome. Sam - (2011-05-02)[3272] Melksham Car Parking - current charges and limits - (2011-05-01)[3249] Events - Spring and Early Summer 2011 in Melksham - (2011-04-17)[3246] Melksham - the way forward. 26th April, Well House Manor - (2011-04-13)[3217] Vandalism and riot from the minority - the effect - (2011-03-28)[3214] Melksham Campus - any last minute inputs from Melksham businesses? - (2011-03-26)[3193] Melksham Campus - what, why, questions, concerns and how you can input - (2011-03-04)[3188] What proportion of the British Workforce still works a Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, week? - (2011-03-01)[3173] What is the Melksham Chamber of Commerce? - (2011-02-18)[3172] On consultations, car parking, and Melksham town centre - (2011-02-17)[3162] Keep your business customer-friendly! - (2011-02-09)[3141] Wiltshire Rail services - a golden opportunity - (2011-01-21)[3117] Opportunities for Melksham - new businesses in the town - (2011-01-01)[3113] Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham - more roadworks, even slower journey over the winter - (2010-12-30)[3088] Melksham - two many councils? - (2010-12-16)[2995] A river in Melksham is not just for boaters. - (2010-10-11)[2982] Travel, Transport and Tourism - A vision for Melksham, 2026 - (2010-10-03)[2959] A Melksham news roundup - (2010-09-18)[2957] Welcome to Countrywides new Melksham store - (2010-09-15)[2932] Getting into and out of Wiltshire towns .. a.k.a. Car Parking? - (2010-08-23)[2891] Wiltshire Council ask how they can help businesses - (2010-07-27)[2883] Melksham Oak - photos of the new community school - (2010-07-22)[2872] Moved - Melksham Lorry Park - (2010-07-15)[2867] Cycling in Melksham, and looking forward - (2010-07-11)[2853] Transport in Wessex - today and into the future - (2010-07-04)[2837] Lorry Parking in Melksham - (2010-06-29)[2827] Melksham - a gem in Wiltshire - (2010-06-26)[2782] Tell the Melksham Chamber or you only have yourself to blame - (2010-05-26)[2779] The history and future of Melksham Chamber of Commerce - (2010-05-25)[2770] Melksham Chamber of Commerce - Presidents report to AGM - (2010-05-19)[2725] How do our tactics help us meet the strategy, for the greater good? - (2010-04-16)[2683] Car Parking in Melksham - (2010-03-18)[2666] Random thoughts on Melksham Town Planning and development - (2010-03-08)[2640] How is your tax pound spent? - (2010-02-18)[2594] Melksham Area - your community view is sought - (2010-01-23)[2568] Forums for your Melksham and open source discussions - (2010-01-09)[2546] How well do you know Melksham - a quiz for Christmas - (2009-12-21)[2544] Vision for Wiltshire - (2009-12-20)[2540] Rock and hard place .. and the relaxing right one won - (2009-12-18)[2531] Melksham - new Tuesday Market - (2009-12-09)[2521] Melksham Market - Tuesdays, 09:00 to 14:00 - (2009-12-01)[2514] The road show has been - where now? - (2009-11-27)[2508] Community Area Partnership - inaugural AGM - (2009-11-20)[2495] Planning the future of Wiltshire - (2009-11-07)[2487] Melksham Forum - (2009-11-01)[2465] Melksham Town - asleep or awake? - (2009-10-21)[2459] New Web Site for Melksham Chamber of Commerce - (2009-10-18)[2437] Wiltshire Unitary News - Chamber of Commerce Intelligence - (2009-10-04)[2328] Melksham - no trains, no southbound buses through the town - (2009-08-08)[2289] pre-Inaugural briefing - Melksham Community Area Partnership - (2009-07-15)[2288] Wiltshire Community Area Partnerships - (2009-07-15)[2260] Important - the future of Melksham / Chamber of Commerce - (2009-06-28)[2220] Melksham Traders - where do we go? - (2009-06-05)[2194] Melksham Business Map - Chamber of Commerce, Tourist Information and Town Council - (2009-05-21)[2181] You cannot please all of the people all of the time - (2009-05-14)[2119] Make your business a DESTINATION business - (2009-04-05)[2111] Business Networking for Melksham - 23rd April - (2009-04-01)[2095] Blue Ridge and Melksham Chambers of Commerce - (2009-03-21)[1987] One Cheer for Local Democracy - Asda in Melksham - (2009-01-11)[1979] Looking forward, in Melksham, in 2009 - (2009-01-05)[1934] Lidl opens in Melksham - (2008-12-11)[1904] Ruby, Perl, Linux, MySQL - some training notes - (2008-11-23)[1892] Melksham Chamber of Commerce and Industry - (2008-11-17)[1881] Wiltshire Council says - part 1 - (2008-11-13)[1880] Melksham Chamber of Commerce, or the FSB - (2008-11-12)[1792] All the pieces fall into place - hotel and courses - (2008-09-10)[1748] Hotel room prices - Melksham, Wiltshire - (2008-08-11)[1642] Summer! - (2008-05-15)[1633] Changing a screen saver from a web page (PHP, Perl, OSX) - (2008-05-06)[1507] Comments on proposed Asda Superstore for Melksham - (2008-01-14)[1504] Flooding by Asda-s proposed new supermarket - (2008-01-12)[1476] Shopping for Christmas and looking forward - (2007-12-17)[1432] Wiltshire County Council - Budget Consultation - (2007-11-15)[1429] Remembrance day - inside a church and inside the day - (2007-11-11)[1250] Business speed networking - a place tonight! - (2007-06-28)[1223] Asda opening large new store in Melksham - (2007-06-08)[717] A customer service company - (2006-05-11)

This is a page archived from The Horse's Mouth at
http://www.wellho.net/horse/ -
the diary and writings of Graham Ellis.
Every attempt was made to provide current information at the time the
page was written, but things do move forward in our business - new software
releases, price changes, new techniques. Please check back via
our main site for current courses,
prices, versions, etc - any mention of a price in "The Horse's Mouth"
cannot be taken as an offer to supply at that price.